“Nowthatis a damn shame.” He followed me over and helped me into my coat, his fingers brushing my skin and causing utter havoc. Then he tugged me close, kissed me again, long and slow, before whispering, “Are you really sure you want to leave?”
No, gods no.I swallowed hard and stepped out of his arms. “I can’t stay. Ingrid already does way too much.”
“Tuesday then?”
“Tuesday,” I agreed breathlessly, then turned and hurried out of the apartment.
He watched me all the way down to the street, a heat I could feel even after I was long gone from his sight. Even then, the wanting did not leave me. It was intensifying rather than easing.
I dug out my phone again and called Darby. “Hey, you busy right now?”
“Just coming home from seeing Rossita and Ruairí. Why?”
“Your home, or Lugh’s?”
“Mine for now.” A hint of concern now touched her tone. “To repeat, why?”
“It’s possible I might have been drugged. I need you to check.”
“Fuck, Beth, where are you? I’ll come to you.”
“I’m near the tavern but?—”
“No buts—just get there and stop moving about.”
“You’ll find me in the shower. A verycoldshower.”
“What the fuck?”
“I’ll explain when you get there.”
“Oh, you certainly will, my friend.”
She hung up and I continued on, doing my best to ignore the desire raging through my body. I made it to the tavern without giving in to the almost overwhelming urge to jump the nearest man’s bones, and hurried upstairs, stripping off as I all but ran into the shower. In the end, ice water didn’t do all that much, but masturbating did at least ease the all-consuming need. It remained in the background, though, a heated river that showed no inclination to cool.
The question was, if the raging desire was due to some sort of drug, how had he given it to me? I’d never gotten around to drinking the tea, and if he’d somehow done it via the kiss, surely it would have affected him as much as me. The why, however, was easy enough—to get information—but what type? Was he really working for the other side of this godly game, or was something else going on? Was he indeed under the control of Bia’s Blade and its wielder?
Was I really that bad a judge of character?
Yes,that inner voice replied glumly. Yes, you certainly are.
The thunder of Darby’s hurried steps echoed through the building long before she actually appeared.
“I’m okay,” I called out, grabbing a robe and tying it on as I padded barefoot over to the fireplace. I hadn’t lit it for well over a day, and the chill in the air was getting noticeable.
She appeared on the landing just as the fire caught, her face flushed with concern. “I thought I told you to sit down and not move.”
“It’s not that sort of drug. No death waiting in the wings.”
“I think you’d best let me be the judge of that.” She pointed imperiously at the sofa. “Sit. Now.”
I sat. She squatted in front of me, pressed her fingertips against my temples, then closed her eyes. Her healing energysurged, bathing me in warmth, sweeping every inch of my body slowly and carefully.
“Well, fuck,” she murmured. “You’re right. It’s definitelynotthat sort of drug.”
“Do you know what caused it?”
“Yes, although it’s a combination I’ve not seen before. Sit still while I chase it from your system.”
